Manik is a multiscript type family in Bengali and Latin, guided by a spirit of diversity and inspired by vernacular letterforms. Its design is rooted in the need for an expressive and versatile Bengali typeface for editorial use — one that also harmonizes with a contemporary Latin companion. This balance is reflected in both the text and italic styles, which feature fluid, dynamic forms influenced by cursive writing models. Drawing from handwriting, the Italic is a fresh take on the use of a secondary style in Bengali. While maintaining legibility, it is intended to work alongside the upright in continuous text. The idea of expressiveness is taken further in the Poster style, designed for large titles and display settings. It features more abstract, counterless letterforms that embody spontaneity — an effect achieved through analogue paper-cutting experiments.
The name Manik is a tribute to the legendary Bengali filmmaker and graphic designer Satyajit Ray, affectionately known as Manik-da by those close to him.
